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Overview

I've worked as an editor and writer in the field of speculative fiction for over 30 years. My first novel, Waking Beauty (HarperCollins) was short-listed for the Tiptree Award in 1997. I'm the author of four more novels: Tumbling After (HarperCollins, 2005), Dracula: Asylum (Dark Horse, 2006), and The Emperor of All Things and its sequel, The Watchman of Eternity (Transworld, 2012, 2014). A collection of my short fiction, Everland, appeared from PS Publishing in 2007. I've been a finalist for the World Fantasy, Nebula, and Shirley Jackson awards.

I was the science fiction and fantasy editor for the eBook and print-on-demand division of Time Warner books, where I edited fifteen novels and story collections. My editorial clients have included Random House, HarperCollins, the Avalon Publishing Group, NightShade Books, and TokyoPop, among others.

I have a Master's Degree in Creative Writing from The City College of New York and am a graduate of the prestigious Clarion Writer's Workshop. I am member of the Science Fiction Writers of America. I teach creative writing online at Gotham Writers Workshop, UCLAExtension, and in the Master's program at Southern New Hampshire University's College of Continuing Education.

As an editor, I work closely with authors to identify and fix problem areas in a manuscript at all levels. While I believe my experience as a writer gives me unique insight into the issues that other writers face on the page, I pride myself on putting that experience to work in the service of my clients to make their fiction the best it can be.

Awards

Work experience

Copyeditor

Self-employed

Copyediting for Baen Books, Small Beer Press, and Harlequin, as well as work for individual clients.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Editor

iPublish.com

August, 2000
–
December, 2001
(over 1 year)

Built and directed science fiction/fantasy line of eBooks and POD paperbacks for electronic division of major print publisher.
· Acquired, negotiated contracts for, and edited original eBooks and paperbacks.
· Negotiated electronic rights for over 100 Time Warner and Little Brown titles.

Freelance editor

Self-employed

January, 1986
–
Present
(about 32 years)

Line editing for Time Warner, Nightshade Books, Del Rey Books, and TokyoPop, as well as freelance projects for individual writers.

Copywriter

Self-employed

January, 1986
–
Present
(about 32 years)

Writing cover copy for a number of clients, including Random House, Sterling, and Avon. Fiction, non-fiction, and many bestsellers in all genres.

Portfolio (13 selected works)

Dancing With Bears follows the adventures of notorious con-men Darger and Surplus: They’ve lied and cheated their way onto the caravan that is delivering a priceless gift from the Caliph of Baghdad to the Duke of Muscovy. The only thing harder than the journey to Muscovy is their arrival in Muscovy. An audience with the Duke seems impossible to obtain, and Darger and Surplus quickly become ent... read more

Dancing With Bears follows the adventures of notorious con-men Darger and Surplus: They’ve lied and cheated their way onto the caravan that is delivering a priceless gift from the Caliph of Baghdad to the Duke of Muscovy. The only thing harder than the journey to Muscovy is their arrival in Muscovy. An audience with the Duke seems impossible to obtain, and Darger and Surplus quickly become ent... read more

NEW ADVENTURES BASED ON THE WORLD’S BESTSELLING VIDEO GAMEAfter completing a near-fatal mission in the mysterious cloud forests of Peru, Lara Croft flies to Warsaw to tackle her next assignment–and finds herself in the middle of an epic battle for the ultimate power.Reuben Baptiste needs Lara Croft’s help transporting precious cargo. But before Reuben can reveal any details, he is murdered–and... read more

NEW ADVENTURES BASED ON THE WORLD’S BESTSELLING VIDEO GAMEAfter completing a near-fatal mission in the mysterious cloud forests of Peru, Lara Croft flies to Warsaw to tackle her next assignment–and finds herself in the middle of an epic battle for the ultimate power.Reuben Baptiste needs Lara Croft’s help transporting precious cargo. But before Reuben can reveal any details, he is murdered–and... read more

Here at last–the first exciting book in a bold new series of Lara Croft novels tying directly into the popular video games. The Amulet of Power reveals the never-before shown events that took place between “The Last Revelation” and “Angel of Darkness.” Trapped beneath the ruins of an Egyptian tomb, Lara faces certain death . . . until fate intervenes and sets her on the trail of an ancient tal... read more

Here at last–the first exciting book in a bold new series of Lara Croft novels tying directly into the popular video games. The Amulet of Power reveals the never-before shown events that took place between “The Last Revelation” and “Angel of Darkness.” Trapped beneath the ruins of an Egyptian tomb, Lara faces certain death . . . until fate intervenes and sets her on the trail of an ancient tal... read more

While on a mission for the CIA to recover stolen Iraqi artifacts, Lara Croft narrowly escapes death–only to be thrown headlong into her next action-packed adventure.After destroying years of his research on the ancient Méne cult, archaeologist Professor Frys is murdered by an unknown assassin. Lara Croft knows her colleague must have stumbled upon a dangerous secret–and someone took his life t... read more

While on a mission for the CIA to recover stolen Iraqi artifacts, Lara Croft narrowly escapes death–only to be thrown headlong into her next action-packed adventure.After destroying years of his research on the ancient Méne cult, archaeologist Professor Frys is murdered by an unknown assassin. Lara Croft knows her colleague must have stumbled upon a dangerous secret–and someone took his life t... read more

Louisiana, 2065. A lot has changed in the 43rd year of the Kurian Order. Possessed of an unnatural and legendary hunger, the bloodthirsty Reapers have come to Earth to establish a New Order built on the harvesting of enslaved human souls. They rule the planet. They thrive on the scent of fear. And if it is night, as sure as darkness, they will come. On this pitiless world, the indomitable spir... read more

Louisiana, 2065. A lot has changed in the 43rd year of the Kurian Order. Possessed of an unnatural and legendary hunger, the bloodthirsty Reapers have come to Earth to establish a New Order built on the harvesting of enslaved human souls. They rule the planet. They thrive on the scent of fear. And if it is night, as sure as darkness, they will come. On this pitiless world, the indomitable spir... read more

Deep below a desolate Utah mountain lies the largest platinum deposit ever discovered. A billion-dollar find, it waits for any company that can drill a world's record, three-mile-deep mine shaft. EarthCore is the company with the technology, the resources and the guts to go after the mother lode. Young executive Connell Kirkland is the company's driving force, pushing himself and those around ... read more

Deep below a desolate Utah mountain lies the largest platinum deposit ever discovered. A billion-dollar find, it waits for any company that can drill a world's record, three-mile-deep mine shaft. EarthCore is the company with the technology, the resources and the guts to go after the mother lode. Young executive Connell Kirkland is the company's driving force, pushing himself and those around ... read more

Nineteen-year-old Bill Shunn is a man on a mission—a Mormon mission, that is, trolling for converts door-to-door a thousand miles from home. This riveting memoir—by turns hilarious, provocative, and thrilling—traces his accidental journey from that humble beginning to hunted fugitive and international terrorist.A seventh-generation Mormon, steeped since birth in the gospel according to Joseph ... read more

Nineteen-year-old Bill Shunn is a man on a mission—a Mormon mission, that is, trolling for converts door-to-door a thousand miles from home. This riveting memoir—by turns hilarious, provocative, and thrilling—traces his accidental journey from that humble beginning to hunted fugitive and international terrorist.A seventh-generation Mormon, steeped since birth in the gospel according to Joseph ... read more

From the ashes of the Great War, Men, Elves, and Dwarves struggle to rebuild their societies in the land of Nostraterra. Secret factions in each race risk plunging Nostraterra into open warfare by threatening the life of Alfrahil crown Prince of Eldora. As fire arrows hiss down within the city walls, a desperate Alfrahil rides for his life to escape assassination. Who is plotting to kill him a... read more

From the ashes of the Great War, Men, Elves, and Dwarves struggle to rebuild their societies in the land of Nostraterra. Secret factions in each race risk plunging Nostraterra into open warfare by threatening the life of Alfrahil crown Prince of Eldora. As fire arrows hiss down within the city walls, a desperate Alfrahil rides for his life to escape assassination. Who is plotting to kill him a... read more

Three times they tried to kill her. Then a professional was hired. So was Riyria. When the last member of the oldest noble family in Avryn is targeted for assassination, Riyria is hired to foil the plot. Three years have passed since the war-weary mercenary Hadrian and the cynical ex-assassin Royce joined forces to start life as rogues-for-hire. Things have gone well enough until they're asked... read more

Three times they tried to kill her. Then a professional was hired. So was Riyria. When the last member of the oldest noble family in Avryn is targeted for assassination, Riyria is hired to foil the plot. Three years have passed since the war-weary mercenary Hadrian and the cynical ex-assassin Royce joined forces to start life as rogues-for-hire. Things have gone well enough until they're asked... read more

Jevick, the pepper merchant's son, has been raised on stories of Olondria, a distant land where books are as common as they are rare in his home. When his father dies and Jevick takes his place on the yearly selling trip to Olondria, Jevick's life is as close to perfect as he can imagine. But just as he revels in Olondria's Rabelaisian Feast of Birds, he is pulled drastically off course and be... read more

Jevick, the pepper merchant's son, has been raised on stories of Olondria, a distant land where books are as common as they are rare in his home. When his father dies and Jevick takes his place on the yearly selling trip to Olondria, Jevick's life is as close to perfect as he can imagine. But just as he revels in Olondria's Rabelaisian Feast of Birds, he is pulled drastically off course and be... read more

FIRST IN THE NEW EPIC FANTASY SERIES, WULF'S SAGA. STUNNING COVER ART BY SPECTRUM AWARD WINNER DANIEL DOS SANTOS. Sixteen-year-old third son of a duke in an alternate Viking-like medieval America must face invasion by confederates of a colonial Roman empire based on vampiric blood slavery.The Dragon of Shenandoah wasn't supposed to be calling. Wulf von Dunstig was so far down the succession li... read more

FIRST IN THE NEW EPIC FANTASY SERIES, WULF'S SAGA. STUNNING COVER ART BY SPECTRUM AWARD WINNER DANIEL DOS SANTOS. Sixteen-year-old third son of a duke in an alternate Viking-like medieval America must face invasion by confederates of a colonial Roman empire based on vampiric blood slavery.The Dragon of Shenandoah wasn't supposed to be calling. Wulf von Dunstig was so far down the succession li... read more

"Koja can pack a lot Dickensian humor into a sentence."—The Plain DealerUnder the Poppy is a brothel owned by Decca and Rupert. Decca is in love with Rupert but he in turn is in love with her brother, Istvan. When Istvan comes back to town, louche puppet troupe in tow, the lines of their age-old desires intersect against a backdrop of approaching war.Hearts are broken when old betrayals and ne... read more

"Koja can pack a lot Dickensian humor into a sentence."—The Plain DealerUnder the Poppy is a brothel owned by Decca and Rupert. Decca is in love with Rupert but he in turn is in love with her brother, Istvan. When Istvan comes back to town, louche puppet troupe in tow, the lines of their age-old desires intersect against a backdrop of approaching war.Hearts are broken when old betrayals and ne... read more